JOC Staff | Nov 19, 2012 10:13AM EST
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard and representatives from the barge and shipping industries held a press conference in St. Louis on Nov. 16 to discuss government-industry cooperation in managing the Mississippi River during continued drought and low water conditions, which could bring the waterway’s commerce to a halt in early December.
Low water levels could delay shipments of grain, domestic crude oil and coal in December and January, valued at more than $7 billion.
Industry leaders called on the Obama administration to issue a presidential declaration to allow for emergency response, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
John W. Peabody, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, said the corps is contracting to blast rock pinnacles and strategically releasing water to relieve the situation.
